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September 18, 2007
Can You Sanitize Poor J.D. Grades with an LL.M.?
From the New York Lawyer:
Q: Can you sanitize poor J.D. grades with an LL.M.?
A: In a word, no. Sorry about that. Unfortunately, you can’t run from or hide those grades. As I have discussed in many, many past columns, your law school transcript will be a part of your history for the rest of your career. Trying to improve the appearance of your transcript with a high gradepoint from an LL.M. degree just doesn’t work. I have also discussed the general reasons for earning – or not earning – an LL.M. in a number of my past columns. In my experience over the years, I have found that unless you are a tax attorney or perhaps an international lawyer, an LL.M. does not enhance the way any employer will view your J.D. academics, class ranking or school.
September 18, 2007 in Law School | Permalink
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Comments
That article is sort of silly, since it qualifies the LLM issue with "unless you are a tax attorney."
Posted by: S.cotus | Sep 18, 2007 8:22:06 AM
I want to be a tax attorney. I go to an unknown (except locally) 4th tier law school. I am roughly in the top 15% of my class and have previous experience as a military officer. I am not trying to make up for bad grades as much as I am trying to make up for a bad school. Will getting an LLM in tax help me if it is from one of the top 3 programs (NYU, GULC, UF)? I also have law review, tax volunteer work, and Biglaw summer associate experience (I'm not going back to that firm though) on my resume.
Any advice?
Posted by: anon | Sep 18, 2007 9:15:32 AM
A number of well-known firms recruit straight out of the major LLM tax programs. To say then that doing well in an LLM program cannot improve the appearance of your transcript or broaden your appeal does not follow.
Posted by: LLM With Disctinction | Sep 18, 2007 9:44:41 AM
A number of well-known firms hire straight out of the major Tax LLM programs. It does not follow then that doing well in such a program does not improve the appearance of your transcript.
Posted by: LLM With Disctinction | Sep 18, 2007 9:47:03 AM
Yes, you can do that Some of the prestigious firms will still consider your JD school, but most big law will consider you with good grades from a NYU or UF Tax LLM program. Tax is unique in this way. Take a look at the big-law firm web sites, and comb through their tax attorneys -- about a quarter will have NYU Tax LLMs and lower tier JD schools (although maybe not a lot of 4th tiers).
Posted by: Another LLM taxer | Sep 18, 2007 5:41:38 PM
Thanks to you both for the replies. This helps.
Posted by: same guy | Sep 18, 2007 7:41:35 PM
Does anyone know what is considered a poor JD class rank or GPA by law firms that recruit at top 5 graduate tax (LLM) programs?
Posted by: Ed | Feb 7, 2008 5:29:39 PM
